Intelligent event system and method for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle access control system configured to estimate, based on received message, at least one of distance, position, or direction of a target to the vehicle prior to initiating the engine of the vehicle, the vehicle access control system comprises at least one of an occupancy/intrusion system, a gesture access entry system, a virtual key sharing system, or an event system.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to keyfob systems and, moreparticularly, to an intelligent event system and method for a vehicle.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. Itshould be understood that these aspects are presented merely to providethe reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and thatthese aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may notbe set forth below.

According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a systemcomprises an interface of a vehicle for communicating with a vehicleuser and a controller of the vehicle in communication with the interfaceand configured to connect to a thin device carried by or worn by thevehicle user responsive to the vehicle user approaching the vehicle,retrieve data associated with a calendar event from the thin device,when the vehicle user is within a range of authorization for exchangingdata over a data channel with the thin device, the data including adestination location and a time at which the calendar event occurs, anddisplay the destination location and the time to the vehicle user. Theinterface comprises a master sensing node and at least one slave sensingnode for communicating with the vehicle user. The at least one slavesensing node receives a beacon packet from the thin client and themaster sensing node receives the beacon packet and signal strengthinformation from the at least one slave sensing node, the master sensingnode estimates at least one of distance, position, or direction of thevehicle user to the vehicle prior to actuating the engine of thevehicle. The controller is configured to perform at least one PassiveEntry Passive Start (PEPS) function at the vehicle when the vehicle useris within a range of authorization. The controller is further configuredto turn on a camera system. The controller is configured to prompt theinterface to determine any obstacle around the vehicle and turn on atleast one of a front end camera and a rear end camera of the camerasystem responsive to the location of the obstacle. The controller isconfigured to prompt the interface to determine any obstacle around thevehicle and turn on a sensor responsive to the location of the obstacle,the sensor having a frequency operating from 20 kHz and above. Forinstance, the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a LIDAR, anultrasound sensor, a thermal sensor, an optical sensor, and anultrasonic sensor.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the controller isconfigured to retrieve weather information, turn on a climate controlsystem of the vehicle, and set the climate control system if eithercooling or heating is required based on the retrieved weatherinformation. Further, the controller is configured to retrieve vehicleuser profile from the thin client, identify vehicle user preferencebased on prior recorded vehicle user control inputs, and control aclimate control system to achieve user comfort responsive to the vehicleuser preference.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the controller isconfigured to retrieve vehicle user profile from the thin client,identify vehicle user preference based on prior recorded vehicle usercontrol inputs, and control an infotainment system to achieve usercomfort responsive to the vehicle user preference. The thin client isselected from a group consisting of a key fob, a wearable device, aportable device, a phablet, a personal digital assistant, and a devicehaving electronic calendar function and figured to being accessible byat least one of the controller or the interface.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the controller is furtherconfigured to generate an event responsive, at least in part, todetection an event internal of the vehicle by the master sensing node,and wherein the event responsive comprising at least one of (a)indicates RF pattern of an object internal of the vehicle, (b) indicatesan image of the object internal of the vehicle, (c) indicates anacoustic signal pattern of the object internal of the vehicle, and (d)indicates a biometric information of the object internal of the vehicle.The indication comprises a distortion provided, at least in part,responsive to the RF patterns detected by the master sensing node. Theindication comprises a change in RF patterns detected by the mastersensing node. The indication is provided, at least in part, responsiveto an imaging data captured by an imaging sensor of the master sensingnode. The indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to anacoustic data recorded by a transducer of the master sensing node. Theindication is provided, at least in part, responsive to a biometric datacaptured by a biometric device of the master sensing node.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the controller is furtherconfigured to transmit an alert in response to the event responsiveindicating a presence of at least one of an occupancy and an intrusion.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the controller isconfigured to control an access entry device of the vehicle by eithergranting access to the vehicle user when the vehicle user is within arange of authorization or denying access to the vehicle user when thevehicle user is outside a range of authorization.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an accelerometer of thethin client in communication with the controller is provided. Thecontroller is configured to receive data from the accelerometer defininga first gesture identifier and control the access entry device of thevehicle to unlock a door of the vehicle if the vehicle user is within arange of authorization corresponds to the first gesture identifier.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an accelerometer of thethin client in communication with the controller is provided. Thecontroller is configured to receive data from the accelerometer defininga second gesture identifier and control the access entry device of thevehicle to lock a door of the vehicle if the vehicle user is outside arange of authorization corresponds to the second gesture identifier. Theinterface, in one embodiment, is integrated into the controller.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided asystem comprises an interface of a vehicle for communicating with avehicle user, a controller of the vehicle in communication with theinterface, and a training module in communication with the controller,the training module is configured to control a vehicle device, based ona perimeter. The perimeter is at least one of an event, a routine, aregular activity, or a daily activity performed by the vehicle userstored in a memory. The vehicle device is a climate weather controldevice, an infotainment device, a door access entry system, and anavigation system. The memory may be either located remotely outside thevehicle inside the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosurewill become better understood when the following detailed description ofcertain exemplary embodiments is read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters represent like arts throughout thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a system on a vehicle that employs one ormore node;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating an intrusion/occupancy system;

FIG. 3A is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating a gesture access entry system;

FIG. 3B is another simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating a gesture access entry system;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating a virtual key sharing system; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating an event system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the described embodiments, and is provided inthe context of a particular application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein maybe applied to other embodiments and applications without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments. Thus, the describedembodiments are not limited to the embodiments shown, but are to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and featuresdisclosed herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 in accordance with a disclosure. Thesystem 10 generally includes a vehicle 12 and a target 14communicatively coupled to the vehicle 12 via a communication link. Thesystem can be a passive vehicle access control, a remote key entrysystem, etc. Other contemplated vehicle systems include an accesscontrol, a key access, an entry control, a gesture control, and agesture access. As illustrated, the communication link is a Bluetooth(BT) communication protocol and standard that includes a Bluetooth LowEnergy (BLE) communication protocol. Other contemplated communicationprotocol includes low energy/power consumption. The target 14 may bekey/card devices, client devices, BLE-enabled devices, and communicationprotocol with low energy/power consumption-enabled devices. The key/carddevice may be a key fob, key card, a client device, an access key, anaccess card, a smart card, and a smart key. The client device may be asmart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet, a laptop, aportable personal computer, a phablet, a wearable device, a thin device,a thick device, an entertainment device, and an infotainment device. Asillustrated, the key/card device is a smart key 18 and the client deviceis a phablet 16. A plurality of wireless nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 havingintegrated antenna can be installed at various locations in and aroundthe vehicle 12. In one embodiment, the antenna is a directional antenna.Depending on the application, other suitable antenna integrated into thenodes may be used in the system. Node 26 is positioned within the frontend of the vehicle 12 at a particular location such as adjacent to adashboard and can be functioned as remote key entry (RKE) node. Nodes20, 22, 24, and 28 are positioned within the vehicle 12 at variousparticular locations of the vehicle 12 and can be functioned as passiveentry passive start (PEPS) nodes. In one embodiment, the node 26 isoperable to perform at least one Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS)function at the vehicle when the target is within a range ofauthorization. For example, node 20 and 24 are installed near thehandles of the front doors and node 22 is installed near the rear end ofthe vehicle. In one embodiment, the node 26 faces toward the inside ofthe vehicle while the rest of the node 20, 22, 24, and 28 faceoutwardly. Nodes 20, 22, 24, and 28 may be for instance slave sensingnodes for communicating with the target 14 and node 26 is the masternode of the vehicle 12 in communication with one or more slave sensingnodes 20, 22, 24, and 28. Although five nodes are illustrated, anysuitable number of nodes may be installed and positioned within thevehicle 12 without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

At least one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 periodically transmit anysuitable number of packets to announce the presence of the vehicle 12 tothe target 14, e.g. the smart key 18 or the phablet 16 carried by adriver or an authorized person of the vehicle 12. Other contemplatedpackets include beacon packets. The target 14 receives these beaconpackets can initiate the connection and carry out an authenticationprocess with the vehicle 12. In this process, the vehicle 12 and thetarget 14 continuously or repeatedly exchange data packets. Forinstance, the target 14 periodically transmits the beacon packets toeither one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 or the vehicle accesscontrol/entry device that is coupled to the nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28.Once the connection between the vehicle 12 and the target 14 isauthenticated, one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 28 transmits the receivedinformation containing the beacon packets together with Received SignalStrength (RSS) value of the signal from the target 14 to the node 26.Other contemplated wireless channel physical parameter value other thanRSS value includes channel state value, time of flight value, angle ofarrival value, and phase shift value. The node 26 then estimates atleast one perimeter such as distance, direction, and position of thesmart key 18 or the phablet 16 from the received information. Inalternate embodiment, one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 is configuredto receive a beacon packet from the target 14, determine signal strengthinformation of the signal from the target 14, and transmit a message tothe controller having the signal strength information and the beaconpacket of the target. The master node 26 comprises one or morecontrollers that is operable to execute instructions that are stored ina computer readable storage device or a computer readable medium, suchas RAM, ROM, a solid state memory device, or a disk drive. The masternode 26 is configured to estimate, based on received message, at leastone of distance, position, or direction of the target 14 such as thevehicle user to the vehicle 12 prior to initiate the engine of thevehicle 12. In some embodiments, one or more controllers may be coupledto the master node 26.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicle 12incorporating an intrusion or occupancy detection system 30 comprises anode assembly 32 including one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 that aresimilar to those nodes described above. The system 30 further comprisesa transducer assembly 34 communicatively coupled to the node assembly32. The transducer assembly 34 may include an acoustic transducer 36, abiometric sensor 38, a RF sensor 40, an imaging sensor 42, or the like.In one embodiment, the node 32 comprises one or more controllers that isoperable and configured to generate an event responsive, at least inpart, to detection an event internal of the vehicle, and wherein theevent responsive comprising at least one of (a) indicates RF pattern ofan object internal of the vehicle, (b) indicates an image of the objectinternal of the vehicle, (c) indicates an acoustic signal pattern of theobject internal of the vehicle, and (d) indicates a biometricinformation of the object internal of the vehicle. In anotherembodiment, one or more controllers coupled to the node 32 is operableand configured to generate an event responsive, at least in part, todetection an event internal of the vehicle, and wherein the eventresponsive comprising at least one of (a) indicates RF pattern of anobject internal of the vehicle, (b) indicates an image of the objectinternal of the vehicle, (c) indicates an acoustic signal pattern of theobject internal of the vehicle, and (d) indicates a biometricinformation of the object internal of the vehicle. The indicationcomprises a distortion provided, at least in part, responsive to the RFpatterns detected by at least one of a master sensing node 26, anysensing nodes 20, 22, 24, 28 of the node assembly 32 or the RFtransducer 40 of the vehicle. The indication further comprises a changein RF patterns detected by at least one of a master sensing node 26, anysensing nodes 20, 22, 24, 28 of the node assembly 32 or the RFtransducer 40 of the vehicle. In alternate embodiment, the indication isprovided, at least in part, responsive to an imaging data captured by animaging sensor 42. In further embodiment, the indication is provided, atleast in part, responsive to an acoustic data recorded by a transducer.In still another embodiment, the indication is provided, at least inpart, responsive to a biometric data captured by a biometric device.

In certain vehicle designs, the node 32 is configured to transmit analert in response to the event responsive indicating a presence of atleast one of an occupancy and an intrusion. In some embodiments, one ormore controller coupled to the node 32 is configured to transmit analert in response to the event responsive indicating a presence of atleast one of an occupancy and an intrusion. Alternatively, either thenode 32 comprises one or more controllers, or one or more controllerscoupled to the node 32 is operable and configured to control an accessentry device of the vehicle by either granting access to the vehicleuser when the vehicle user is within a range of authorization or denyingaccess to the vehicle user when the vehicle user is outside a range ofauthorization.

FIG. 3A is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicle 12incorporating a gesture access entry system 50 comprises a node assembly32 having one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 which are similar tothose nodes described above. The system 50 further comprises atransducer assembly 52 communicatively coupled to the node assembly 32.The transducer assembly 52 positioned in a target 14 includes at leastone of an accelerometer 54, a gyroscope 56, and a magnetometer 58. Thenode 32 is configured to receive data from any transducer 54, 56, 58 oftransducer assembly 52 that is defined as a first gesture identifier.The node is further configured to control the access entry device of thevehicle to unlock a door of the vehicle when the vehicle user is withina range of authorization corresponding to the first gesture identifier.In some embodiments, the node or the controller is configured to receivedata from any transducer 54, 56, 58 of transducer assembly 52 that isdefined as a second gesture identifier. The node or the controller isfurther configured to control the access entry device of the vehicle tolock a door of the vehicle if the vehicle user is outside a range ofauthorization corresponding to the second gesture identifier. The firstand second gesture identifiers may be still or moving gesture performedby the user either holding, carrying, or wearing the target 14.

FIG. 3B is another simplified schematic representation of a vehicle 12incorporating a gesture access entry system 60 comprises a node assembly32 having one or more nodes 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 which are similar tothose nodes described above. The system 60 further comprises a gesturerecognition/scanning device 62 in communication with the node assembly32. The gesture recognition/scanning device 62 incorporated into a bodyof the vehicle 12 comprises a matrix of micro-sensors or micro-scanners,moveable between an angle that detects moving targets and another anglethat detects still targets. The node 32 is configured to receive datafrom the gesture recognition/scanning device 62 that is defined as afirst gesture identifier. The node is further configured to control theaccess entry device of the vehicle to unlock a door of the vehicle whenthe first gesture identifier matches a gesture stored in a gesturelibrary or a memory. In some embodiments, the node or the controller isconfigured to receive data from the gesture recognition/scanning device62 that is defined as a second gesture identifier. The node or thecontroller is further configured to control the access entry device ofthe vehicle to lock a door of the vehicle when the second gestureidentifier does not match with the gesture stored in the gesture libraryor the memory. The first gesture identifier may be an image gestureperformed by the vehicle driver or the authorized user. The secondgesture identifier may be an image gesture performed by an unauthorizeduser. In one embodiment, the image gesture may be a still image of aphysical characteristic. In another embodiment, the image gesture may bemoving image gesture. In yet another embodiment, the image gesture maybe a changing/transitioning image gesture. Other contemplated imagegestures include hand gesture, face gesture, eye gesture, body gesture,or combination thereof.

In certain vehicle designs, when the node assembly 32 detects thevehicle user or the authorized user is within a range of authorization,the node 32 waits up the gesture recognition/scanning device 62 to scanor capture the user image gesture what is defined as a first gestureidentifier. Once the user image gesture is scanned or captured, the nodeassembly 32 controls the access entry device of the vehicle to eitherunlock or lock the door of the vehicle when the second gestureidentifier matches and corresponds with the gesture stored in thegesture library or the memory.

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating a virtual key sharing system 70. A second target 14′ is incommunicating with the first target 14 and the vehicle 12. The firsttarget 14 is configured to receive a requested schedule time from thesecond target 14′ to pick up the vehicle 12 and transmit a temporary keyhaving a trigger message to the second target and at least one of thenode or the controller. The second target 14′ is identical to the firsttarget 14 as described in FIG. 1. Other contemplated second target 14′includes a server, a network, or a service provider. The second target14′ provides sensor output data representative of a location of thesecond target. The temporary key is automatically removed from thesecond target 14′ based on, at least in part, (a) the sensor outputdata, (b) a travel distance to the vehicle, (c) a travel time to thevehicle, and (d) an arrival time to the vehicle is either exceeding therequested schedule time or the second target is out of a geo-fence ofthe vehicle. In alternate embodiment, the temporary key is automaticallyremoved from the controller, the controller denying the second target anaccess to the vehicle.

In certain vehicle designs, one or more targets 14′ are in communicationwith the other target and the vehicle 12 are provided. The first target14 is configured to receive a request associated with a share event ofthe vehicle from one or more targets 14′, the request including a dateand time at which the share event to be occurred and transmit atemporary key having a trigger message to one or more targets 14′ andvehicle. One or more targets 14′ provides sensor output datarepresentative of a location of one or more targets 14′. In oneembodiment, the temporary key is automatically destructed from one ormore targets 14′ based on, at least in part, (a) the sensor output dataand (b) the share event is either exceeding the request or the secondtarget is out a geo-fence of the vehicle. In another embodiment, thetemporary key is automatically removed from the vehicle, the vehicledenying the second target an access to the vehicle. In one embodiment,the node 32 or the controller receives the request and the temporary keyfrom the target 14 or 14′, automatically destructs the temporary key,and denies access to the target 14 or 14′.

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic representation of a vehicleincorporating an event system 90 communicatively coupled to a systemthat is identical to the system 10 of FIG. 1. An interface of a vehiclefor communicating with a vehicle user and a controller of the vehicle incommunication with the interface are provided. In some embodiments, theinterface may be integrated into the controller. The controller isoperable to connect to a thin device carried by or worn by the vehicleuser responsive to the vehicle user approaching the vehicle, retrievedata associated with a calendar event from the thin device, when thevehicle user is within a range of authorization for exchanging data overa data channel with the thin device, the data including a destinationlocation and a time at which the calendar event occurs and display thedestination location and the time to the vehicle user. An optionaltraining module in communication with at least one of the interface orthe controller may be provided. The training module is operable tocontrol at least one of a vehicle device such as a climate weatherdevice, an infotainment device, a door access entry system, a navigationsystem, or the like, based on a perimeter such as an event, a routine,regular or day activity performed by the vehicle user stored in amemory. The controller or the node including one or more controllers isoperable to perform at least one Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS)function at the vehicle when the vehicle user is within a range ofauthorization. The vehicle 12 further includes one or more sensingsystem such as a camera system, a system operating at 20 kHz, a LIDAR,an ultrasound sensor, a thermal sensor, an optical sensor, an ultrasonicsensor, or the like. The controller is further configured to turn on thesensing system when an obstacle around the vehicle is detected. In someembodiments, the controller is configured to prompt the interface todetermine any obstacle around the vehicle and turn on the camera systemresponsive to the location of the obstacle. The camera system mayinclude a front end camera and a rear end camera positioned within thevehicle 12. The controller controlling the camera system turn on atleast one of a front end camera and a rear end camera of the camerasystem responsive to the location of the obstacle.

In certain vehicle designs, the controller is further configured toretrieve weather information, turn on a climate control system of thevehicle, and set the climate control system if either cooling or heatingis required based on the retrieved weather information. In anotherembodiment, the controller is configured to retrieve vehicle userprofile from the thin client, identify vehicle user preference based onprior recorded vehicle user control inputs, and control a climatecontrol system to achieve user comfort responsive to the vehicle userpreference. In yet another embodiment, the controller is configured toretrieve vehicle user profile from the thin client, identify vehicleuser preference based on prior recorded vehicle user control inputs, andcontrol an infotainment system to achieve user comfort responsive to thevehicle user preference.

Another aspect of the disclosure, any system described above in FIGS.1-5 may include a tracking device and the tracking device is operable totrack the target and estimate the perimeter such as distance, aposition, or direction of the target to a vehicle.

Another aspect of the disclosure, any system described above in FIGS.1-5 may include a training device and the training device is operable todetect, monitor, forward, refuse access, or display and event such as ashare event, a calendar event of the target.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to another aspect of the disclosure, anysystem described above in FIGS. 1-5 may include a training device andthe training device is capable of controlling at least one of a vehicledevice such as a climate control system 92, an infotainment system 94, adoor access entry system 96, a navigation system 98, or the like, basedon a perimeter such as an event, a routine, regular or day activityperformed by the vehicle user stored in a memory.

The embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, andit should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible tovarious modifications and alternative forms. It should be furtherunderstood that the claims are not intended to be limited to theparticular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling with the sprit and scope of thisdisclosure.

Embodiments within the scope of the disclosure may also includenon-transitory computer-readable storage media or machine-readablemedium for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia or machine-readable medium may be any available media that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readablestorage media or machine-readable medium can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures. Combinations of the above should alsobe included within the scope of the non-transitory computer-readablestorage media or machine-readable medium.

Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere tasks are performed by local and remote processing devices thatare linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, or by acombination thereof) through a communications network.

Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions. Computer-executable instructions also includeprogram modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or networkenvironments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,objects, components, and data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of the program code means for executing steps of the methodsdisclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represents examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

While the patent has been described with reference to variousembodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments areillustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited tothem. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements arepossible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the patent havebeen described in the context or particular embodiments. Functionalitymay be separated or combined in blocks differently in variousembodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology.These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsmay fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claimsthat follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: an interface of a vehiclefor communicating with a vehicle user; and a controller of the vehiclein communication with the interface and configured to: connect to a thindevice carried by or worn by the vehicle user responsive to the vehicleuser approaching the vehicle; retrieve data associated with a calendarevent from the thin device automatically while the user is approachingthe vehicle and when the vehicle user is within a range of authorizationfor exchanging data over a data channel with the thin device, the dataincluding a destination location and a time at which the calendar eventoccurs; and display the destination location and the time to the vehicleuser, wherein the interface comprises a master sensing node and at leastone slave sensing node for communicating with the vehicle user, whereinthe at least one slave sensing node receives a beacon packet from thethin client, wherein the master sensing node receives the beacon packetand signal strength information from the at least one slave sensingnode, the master sensing node estimates at least one of distance,position, or direction of the vehicle user to the vehicle to identifywhen the vehicle user is approaching the vehicle, and wherein thecontroller is configured to: prompt the interface to determine anyobstacle around the vehicle; and turn on at least one of a front endcamera and a rear end camera of the camera system responsive to thelocation of the obstacle.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thecontroller is configured to perform at least one Passive Entry PassiveStart (PEPS) function at the vehicle when the vehicle user is within arange of authorization.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the controlleris configured to: retrieve weather information; turn on a climatecontrol system of the vehicle; and set the climate control system ifeither cooling or heating is required based on the retrieved weatherinformation.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller configuredto: retrieve vehicle user profile from the thin client; identify vehicleuser preference based on prior recorded vehicle user control inputs; andcontrol a climate control system to achieve user comfort responsive tothe vehicle user preference.
 5. The system of claim 2 wherein thecontroller is configured to: retrieve vehicle user profile from the thinclient; identify vehicle user preference based on prior recorded vehicleuser control inputs; and control an infotainment system to achieve usercomfort responsive to the vehicle user preference.
 6. The system ofclaim 2 wherein the thin client is selected from a group consisting of akey fob, a wearable device, a portable device, a phablet, a personaldigital assistant, and a device having electronic calendar function andconfigured to be accessible by at least one of the controller or theinterface.
 7. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: control an access entry device of the vehicle by eithergranting access to the vehicle user when the vehicle user is within arange of authorization or denying access to the vehicle user when thevehicle user is outside a range of authorization.
 8. The system of claim7 further comprising an accelerometer of the thin client incommunication with the controller, the controller is configured to:receive data from the accelerometer defining a first gesture identifier;and control the access entry device of the vehicle to unlock a door ofthe vehicle if the vehicle user is within a range of authorizationcorresponding to the first gesture identifier.
 9. The system of claim 7further comprising an accelerometer of the thin client in communicationwith the controller, the controller is configured to: receive data fromthe accelerometer defining a second gesture identifier; and control theaccess entry device of the vehicle to lock a door of the vehicle if thevehicle user is outside a range of authorization corresponding to thesecond gesture identifier.
 10. The system of claim 2 wherein theinterface is integrated into the controller.
 11. The system of claim 2,wherein the controller is configured to generate an indication ofoccupancy/intrusion responsive, at least in part, to detection of anevent internal of the vehicle by the master sensing node, and whereinthe indication is generated in response to at least one of (a) detectionof a change in RF patterns indicative of an object internal of thevehicle, (b) detection of an acoustic signal pattern indicative of theobject internal of the vehicle, and (c) detection of a biometricinformation indicative of the object internal of the vehicle.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11 wherein the change in RF patterns comprises adistortion in the RF patterns detected by the master sensing node. 13.The system of claim 11 wherein the acoustic signal pattern is recordedby a transducer of the master sensing node.
 14. The system of claim 11wherein the biometric data is captured by a biometric device of themaster sensing node.
 15. The system of claim 11 wherein the controlleris further configured to transmit an alert in response to the indicationof occupancy/intrusion.
 16. The system of claim 1 wherein the controlleris configured to turn on a sensor responsive to the location of theobstacle, the sensor having an operating frequency of at least 20 kHz.17. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensor is selected from a groupconsisting of a LIDAR, an ultrasound sensor, a thermal sensor, anoptical sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.